SIMULATED PLASMA AT X AND K BANDS

Abstract

Wire-grid structures made of copper and resistance wires have been used to simulate the behaviour of lossless and lossy plasma respectively under the influence of microwave radiation at X and K bands. Expressions for equivalent electron density (N), transmission (tw) aud reflection (Pw) coeffi.cients have been derived in terms of spacing (a) between wires and spacing (b) between structures placed in the direction of propagation. The coefficient, Iw and Pw and impedance characteristics, and equivalent inductive component have been calculated as functions of b and a by utilising the concept of transmission line analogue of an actual plasma. Experimental results on the shift of the angular position of major lobe due to interaction between microwave radiation and the simulated plasma have been utilised to calculate N and effective dielectric constant as functions of band a.